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2016 UGA Season Off to Strong Start
(To correct some mistakes this story has been edited since originally posted)
Zach Pritchard, a sophomore at BYU from Georgia, came from behind to win the St. George Amateur by one shot over BYU’s highly celebrated freshman-to-be Rhett Rasmussen this past weekend in St. George. It was the first tournament of the 2016 season and while Pritchard’s victory will be etched on the record books forever, it was the opening round score of 61 by Charlie Duensing that stole the show.
Duensing’s remarkable 61 came on a par 73 track and included one bogey and those two footnotes kept him from the equivalent of a 59. His second round of 76, along with the steady two-day play of Pritchard and Rasmussen, kept his name off the trophy. Duensing, a native Utahn who played prep golf at Brighton, plays college golf at the University of Minnesota and the UGA tournament circuit probably won’t see him again until State Am time.
Jeff Powars posted back-to-back 70s to win the Senior Division by two shots over Kirk Siddens.
The results of the first tournament of the year must have BYU coach Bruce Brockbank licking his chops. Pritchard, a sophomore, and Rasmussen, a freshman in the fall, finished first and second. BYU sophomores Patrick Fishburn and Austen Christensen, finished in a tie for fourth place. CJ Lee finished ninth at 141 and Kai Ruiz finished 12th at 143.
With Daniel Summerhays, Tony Finau, and Zac Blair implanting a new ‘can do’ spirit into the dreams of the upcoming generation of players more and more of those dreams are likely to turn into reality. Scores in the 60s are going to become the new norm. Scores in the 70s just aren’t going to cut it.
Next up on the amateur tournament circuit is the Coral Canyon Amateur on this Friday and Saturday, January 15-16 and a Coral Canyon Four-Ball on Sunday the 17th.
St. George Amateur Results
135- Zach Pritchard, 69-66
136- Rhett Rasmussen, 66-70
137- Charlie Duensing, 61-76
140- Patrick Fishburn, 66-74; Darrin Overson, 69-71; Preston Alder, 69-71; Austen Christiansen, 72-68
141- CJ Lee, 69-72; Mitchell Schow, 72-69
143- Kai Ruiz, 68-75; Joseph Glenn, 70-73; Trever Johnson, 71-72; Greg Hunt, 71-72; Brett Garner, 72-71
144- Spencer Dunaway, 68-76; Taylor Yardley, 69-75; Ben Jorgensen, 72-72
Senior Division
140- Jeff Powars, 70-70
142- Kirk Siddens, 67-75
144- Patrick Murphy, 71-73
147- Eldon Richter, 76-71
148- Dan Rappleye, 75-73; Craig Hammer, 75-73; Dana Nelson, 77-71
149- Guy Child, 74-75; Corey Carter, 76-73
150- Craig Woodward, 73-77; Kerry Miller, 74-76; Richard Church, 75-75
Complete scores can be seen at:
Overall Results: CLICK HERE
Senior Results: CLICK HERE